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Charles Darwin Theory

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What is Charles Darwin Theory?

The English naturalist named Charles Darwin had developed a theory known as Darwinism theory in biological evolution. This theory states that through the process of natural selection of the small, inherited variations which increase the ability of the individual for competing, surviving, and reproducing, all the species of the organisms arise and develop. This theory is basically called the theory of evolution.


Charles Darwin made an extensive study in the 19th century on nature for over two decades. His observations on the animal distribution plus the relationship between the living and the extinct animals became very prominent in the coming years. Owing to his contribution to the theory of evolution, Charles Darwin came to be known as the father of evolution. 


Darwin’s Contribution

In the 19th century Charles Darwin conducted extensive study related to nature for more than 2 decades. The observations related to animal distribution, plus the relationship between the living and the extinct animals was found by him. He also found that it’s not just these but there is also a relationship between other species that used to exist millions of years back and present animals who share similarities to some extent.


The Theory of the Evolution

These are some of the ideas that were given by Darwin on the theory of natural selection.

  • The species keep on changing or evolving with time. As the environment changes, the requirements of the organisms also change and they need to adapt to their new environment. According to the natural requirements, the phenomenon of change over a period of time is known as adaptation. 

  • According to Darwin’s theory, only higher changes tend to get naturally selected and lower ones are automatically eliminated. This leads to the progressive evolution and not all the adaptations are able to contribute. 

  • Almost all the organisms share a common ancestry with some of the organisms. All the organisms had a common ancestor at some point of time and this kept on diverging since then according to Darwin.

  • As per Charles Darwin, evolution is a gradual and a slow process. The process of evolution has taken place over a long period of time. When we talk about evolution we are referring to billions of years. A period of time where the entire generation of species has been taken over by another. Since adaptation and changes take a long time to get stabilized, it is a very lengthy and steady process.


Importance of the Charles Darwin Theory

There have been various theories that have been propagated by Charles Darwin. These theories have been accepted and are followed as a possible explanation for the existence of life on earth. There is a huge significance to the theory of Darwin and the impact that it has on science. 


Some of the observations from the theories of Charles Darwin are as follows. The first forms of life in the form of cells appeared about 2000 million years ago on earth. The single-celled organisms were followed by multicellular organisms and then invertebrates were formed. The different organisms began to invade starting from water and then navigating to land, and there was an evolution of the jawless fish. After that reptiles, amphibians, and some viviparous mammals evolved into existence. 


Features of Charles Darwin Theory

The theory of evolution suggested  by Charles Darwin is the most accepted theory and the best explanation of the existence of life on the earth. Charles Darwin Theory is considered as an important theory because of the following reasons:

  • It stated that the first cellular forms of life existed on the earth about 2000 million years ago. 

  • Later single celled, multicellular and invertebrates were formed.

  • Jawless fish also evolved and different organisms started living on land from water. Later, other animals such as viviparous mammals existed. 

  • The primates that were similar to today's gorillas and chimpanzees existed about a million years ago. 

  • Living organisms reproduce and grow naturally.

  • No two individuals are similar to each other and they differ in their physical features, behavior and other characteristics. 

  • Some features are transferred from parents to their offspring. 

  • The rate of reproduction differs in all living organisms. Some reproduce more and some less.

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FAQs on Charles Darwin Theory

1. How can the Charles Darwin Theory be summarized?

Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who was born in 1809 and died in 1882. He developed the Darwinism theory in biological evolution. According to this theory, evolution happens by the process of natural selection. The variation in the physical characteristics is displayed by individuals in the species. When the characteristics are best suited to their environment, the individuals tend to have more likelihood of surviving, evading predators, resisting disease, and finding food.

2. What is natural selection as per Charles Darwin?

Charles Darwin set out the theory of evolution in 1859 by the process of natural selection. This provides the explanation for the adaptation as well as speciation and it is known as Darwin's theory. Charles Darwin defines natural selection as a principle in which each of the slight variation of the trait, if it is useful, tends to get preserved. The natural selection principle is an important part of the Charles Darwin Theory and it forms the basis of his observations.

3. What are interesting facts related to Charles Darwin and his theories?

Some of the interesting facts associated with Charles Darwin are as follows. Charles Darwin was born on the same date as Abraham Lincoln. Darwin had to wait more than 2 decades for publishing the significant theory related to evolution. The same bone structure has been shared by human beings in the hands of various other animals with wings, flippers, or paws.  If the plants and animals did not compete for surviving, the earth would be essentially covered with the offspring of a single pair.

4. How can I refer to Vedantu notes on “Charles Darwin Theory”?

If you want to study from the Vedantu notes on “Charles Darwin” theory then you need to visit the specific section on Charles Darwin of the biology subject. Once you are there just click on the “Download PDF” option and the notes will be downloaded on your devices. It is available for free and once downloaded on your device, you can refer to the notes any time you want as per your convenience.

5. How helpful are Vedantu notes on “Charles Darwin Theory” for my exam preparation?

The Vedantu notes on the “Charles Darwin Theory” are incredibly helpful for preparing for your exams. These notes provide a detailed documentation of different aspects associated with the chapter. Some of the sections included in these notes include the background of Charles Darwin, his theory and contribution, the different observations of the theory, fun facts, and faqs. Referring to these notes can help the students prepare effectively for their exams.


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